Sleeper-moving arrangement

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an arrangement for gripping and releasing a plurality of sleepers intended for a railroad section with the aid of a unit, the arrangement including means for spacing adjacent units equidistantly. The means includes frame-associated and centrally pivotal arms whose outer portions co-act pivotally with one end of a respective brace or link whose other ends are pivotally fastened to a respective outer unit, wherein the central regions of the arms are pivotally fastened to one end of a respective brace or link whose other ends are pivotally fastened to a respective intermediate unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to an arrangement that enables aplurality of closely related and adjacent oriented sleepers to be movedfrom a sleeper assembly in the form of a stock or a stack anddistributed to and along a railroad bed or a prepared track containingembankment.

The arrangement includes a chosen number of coordinated units, each ofwhich comprises a beam construction or beams having end-related grippingmeans, hereinafter referred to as gripping claws, wherein pairs ofgripping claws are adapted to grip or to grip and hold a sleeper in afirst position, and to release the thus held sleeper in a secondposition.

The invention finds particularly suitable application with regard tomoving a plurality of mutually parallel loosely positioned and closelyadjacent sleepers from a sleeper stock or stack, by gripping andpositioning a chosen number of said sleepers simultaneously with the aidof a corresponding number of arrangement-associated units, where saidsleepers are lifted from the sleeper stock, wherein said units are movedaway from one another, with the gripped sleepers depending therefrom, toa predetermined position in which the sleepers are lowered onto therailroad bed or containment embankment and loosened so as to rest onsaid bed.

The arrangement includes to this end a unit-related means, which isadapted to enable the relative distance between said units to be eitherincreased or decreased.

Beam-end-related pairs of gripping claws function to enable a sleeper tobe held firmly by means of an end-orientated clamping effect.

More particularly, said means and said chosen number of units arecoordinated in a frame structure, wherein, when in a mutually combinedfirst position, said units and their pairs of gripping claws andassociated beams are able, to grip and to hold simultaneously a numberof closely adjacent sleepers corresponding to the number of units andextending in the same plane, and to lift said sleepers from a sleeperstock or stack located on one side of the railroad bed and lift and movesaid sleepers towards and over said bed.

During this suspended movement of the thus held sleepers, the aforesaidmeans is activated so as to allow the units to move away from each otherand into a second position in which the units and the sleepers aremutually spaced apart along the railroad bed.

The arrangement also includes means for distributing adjacent units andadjacent sleepers equidistantly.

Equipment utilising a plurality of such arrangements also lies withinthe scope of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several different methods and arrangements of the aforesaid kind areknown to the art.

For instance, an appropriate example of the background of the technologyrelevant at present and the technical field to which the inventionrelates are found in the contents of the International PatentApplication No. PCT/SE98/01992, with the International Publication No.WO-A1-99/24668.

This prior patent application illustrates and describes an arrangementthat includes a number of units, each comprising beam-carrying,end-related gripping claws by means of which a number of sleepers chosenfor an arrangement along a railroad track can be gripped and releasedsimultaneously.

For a closer understanding of the basic conditions that shall be appliedin respect of an arrangement, according to the present invention, thereader is referred primarily to the contents of said patent publicationand secondarily to the following overview description given below, withreference to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Technical Problems

When taking into consideration the technical deliberations that a personskilled in this particular art must make in order to provide a solutionto one or more technical problems that he/she encounters, it will beseen that on the one hand it is necessary initially to realise themeasures and/or the sequence of measures that must be undertaken to thisend, and on the other hand to realise which means is/are required insolving one or more of said problems. On this basis, it will be evidentthat the technical problems listed below are highly relevant to thedevelopment of the present invention.

When considering the present standpoint of techniques, as describedabove, it will be seen that a technical problem resides in the abilityto realise the significance of and the advantages afforded by creatingan arrangement of the aforesaid kind which can be made lighter than theearlier known equipment described in the aforesaid International PatentPublication while including the same number of units.

A technical problem also resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by creating with the aid ofsimple means conditions that will enable a chosen number of sleepers tobe placed along a railroad bed with the aid of a much simpler manuallyapplied force than that required in the case of the known technology,such that adjacent sleepers will be spaced equidistantly and capable ofbeing adjusted in dependence of the support that a rail requires withregard to relevant railroad sections.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by providing means whichenable the horizontal distance between mutually adjacent units to beincreased or reduced with the aid of a beam and associated pairs ofgripping claws, and by providing sleepers held by said gripping clawswith frame-associated centrally pivotal arms, among other things.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability torealise the significance of and the advantages afforded by, inter alia,allowing outer parts of the pivotal arms to co-act pivotally with oneend of a respective brace or link, whose other ends are each pivotallyfastened to a respective outer-orientated unit.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by pivotally fastening oneend of each brace or link to the centre regions of respective pivotalarms, and by pivotally fastening respective other ends of said braces orlinks to a respective intermediate unit.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability torealise the significance of and the advantages afforded by providing thecentrally pivotal arms with a common vertical pivot shaft related to thecentral region of the arms and also to the central region of a framepart.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by including two such armsin the arrangement with the two outer parts of one arm being adapted forpivotal co-action with one end of a respective brace or link and topivotally fasten the other ends thereof to a respective outer unit.

A technical problem also resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by enabling the two outerparts of the other arm to co-act pivotally with one end of a respectiveother brace or link and to pivotally fasten the other ends to arespective outer unit at a chosen distance from the other ends of thebraces or links related to said one arm.

Still another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by enabling two centralregions of said one arm, on each respective side of the arm pivot axis,to co-act pivotally with one end of a respective brace or link whoseother ends are fastened pivotally to a respective one of twointermediate units.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by enabling the two centralregions of said other arm, on each respective side of the arm pivotaxis, to co-act pivotally with one end of a respective brace or linkwhose other ends are fastened pivotally to a respective one of said twointermediate units at a distance from the other ends of the braces orlinks related to said one arm.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by arranging said two armswith their associated eight braces or links equidistantly between chosenpivot points, wherewith two outer units and two intermediate units canbe displaced in parallel with one another.

In this regard, it will be seen that a technical problem resides inallowing said two arms and associated braces or links to differ slightlyin distance between chosen pivot points, wherewith the two outer unitsand/or the two intermediate units may be displaceable in a slightlyconvergent path.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability torealise the significance of and the advantages afforded by allowing thebraces or links to be rotated to a unit transverse position in a fullycombined or closely adjacent position of said units, and to be angledslightly from a perpendicular orientation with said units, and to allowgiven braces or links to mutually intersect.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability torealise the significance of and the advantages afforded by using ahydraulic or a pneumatic piston-cylinder device that is capable ofacting between a frame structure and one of said outer units.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability torealise the significance of and the advantages that are afforded byenabling displacement of an outer unit relative to the frame structureto be achieved through the agency of movement limiting means that mayconsist of a rod of adjustable length disposed between stop meansrelated to said rod.

A further technical problem resides in the ability to provide acoordinated array of at least two inventive arrangements that can bepositioned side-by-side so as to increase the sleeper laying capacity atleast twofold and enable the coordinated arrangements to be actuatedsynchronously in a coordinated fashion, and to realise the significanceof and the advantages afforded by enabling an outer unit of a firstarrangement to be placed adjacent an outer unit of a second arrangement,and to position said two units close to one another and to enable saidunits to mutually co-act through the movement of two mutually pivotalarms and braces or links pivotally fastened thereto.

In the case an array of two identical arrangements, it will be seen thata technical problem resides in realising the significance of and theadvantages afforded by choosing said two pivotal arms and the lengths ofthe braces or links and their pivotal attachments so that the distancebetween adjacent outer units of a respective arrangement will correspondto the distance between an outer unit and an adjacent intermediate unitwith respect to one and/or the other arrangement.

SOLUTION

The present invention takes as its starting point the aforedescribedknown technology wherewith an arrangement enables a co-ordinatedplurality of sleepers intended for a railroad section to be gripped andreleased with the aid of pairs of gripping claws which co-act with oneof a number of units included in the arrangement and which areco-ordinated with said unit through the agency of a gripping-clawcarrying beam.

The arrangement shall be movable and also active between a sleeper stockor stack comprised of a plurality of mutually parallel, loosely stackedand closely adjacent sleepers that can be gripped by gripping clawsallocated to the unit or units of said arrangement.

The arrangement includes a means with which the distance betweenmutually adjacent units and mutually adjacent sleepers can be changed,such as increased, wherewith pairs of gripping claws on one unit areadapted to grip a respective sleeper with an end-orientated orend-related clamping action to move the sleepers through a distancecorresponding to a chosen sleeper distance appropriate for a chosenrailroad bed, at which position the gripping claws in the units areopened above the railroad bed and therewith release said plurality ofsleepers.

Said means are co-ordinated to form an arrangement frame structure.

With the intention of solving one or more of the aforesaid technicalproblems, it is particularly proposed in accordance with the presentinvention that the known technology shall be supplemented by giving saidmeans the form of frame-associated and centrally pivotal arms, whoseouter portions are capable of pivotally co-acting with one end of arespective brace or link whose other ends are pivotally fastened to arespective outer unit.

It is also proposed that one end of a respective brace or link ispivotally fastened to the midway regions of the arms on respective sidesof a central pivot point, and that the other ends are pivotally fastenedto a respective intermediate unit.

By way of proposed embodiments that lie within the scope of the basicconcept of the present invention, it is proposed that the centrallypivotal arms are allocated a common, vertically orientated, pivot axisrelated to said frame part.

It is also proposed that the arms are two in number with both outer armportions of one arm pivotally co-acting with one end of a respectivebrace or link whose other ends are pivotally fastened to a respectiveouter unit.

It is also proposed that both outer arm portions of the other armpivotally co-act with the end of a respective other brace or link whoseother ends are pivotally fastened to a respective outer unit at adistance from the other ends of the braces or links related to said onearm.

It is also proposed that the central regions of one arm on respectivesides of the pivot axis are able to co-act pivotally with one end of arespective brace or link whose other ends are pivotally fastened to arespective intermediate unit.

It is also proposed that the central regions of the other arm onrespective sides of the pivot axis are able to co-act pivotally with oneend of a respective brace or link whose other ends are pivotallyfastened to a respective intermediate beam at a distance from the otherends of the braces or links related to said one arm.

It is also proposed, in accordance with the invention, that said twoarms, with associated braces or links, shall be capable of being giventhe same distance between chosen pivot points, and that two outer unitsand two intermediate units can be displaced in parallel.

It is also proposed that said two arms, with associated braces or links,shall be capable of being given a slightly deviating distance betweenchosen pivot points and that said two outer units and/or said twointermediate units can be displaced in a slightly convergent partrelative to one another.

It is also proposed, in accordance with the invention, that the bracesor links are rotatable to a transverse position of the units, also whenthe units are in a fully juxtaposed position, and therewith be angledslightly from a perpendicular orientation relative to said units andintersect one another.

Also proposed in accordance with the invention is the use of a hydraulicor a pneumatic piston-cylinder device which is able to act between theframe structure and one of said outer units.

In addition, there is proposed in accordance with the invention meansfunctioning to limit displacement of an outer unit relative to saidframe structure, wherein said means may consist of a rod whose lengthcan be adjusted between rod-related stop means.

Also proposed in accordance with the invention is the possibility ofconstructing an array of two or more co-ordinated arrangements, saidarrangements in said array being positioned side-by-side such as toobtain a greater sleeper-laying capacity.

It is proposed in this regard that an outer unit of a first arrangementcan be placed adjacent to and parallel with an outer unit of a secondarrangement and that these units are placed adjacent each other and ableto co-act mutually through the agency of two mutually pivotal arms andalso through the agency of braces or links related to said arms.

With regard to said array of arrangements, it is proposed in accordancewith the invention that the lengths of the two pivotal arms and thelengths of the braces or links and the pivotal attachments are chosen sothat the distance between adjacent outer units in respectivearrangements will correspond to the distance between an outer unit andan adjacent intermediate unit in respect of one and/or the otherarrangement.

ADVANTAGES

Those advantages primarily afforded by the present invention and itsparticular significant characteristic features reside in the provisionof conditions with which the weight of an arrangement of this kind canbe reduced, and therewith facilitate manual manoeuvring of sleepers thatare held firmly in said units and that shall be placed with precisionover a prepared railroad bed, and wherewith the relative distancebetween adjacent sleepers can be readily adjusted in accordance withexpected loading conditions acting on the railroad bed concerned.

Other advantages include simplifications whereby means adapted to enablethe horizontal distance between adjacent units, comprising a beam andgripping claws co-ordinated therewith, and adjacent sleepers comprisestwo frame-associated centrally pivotal arms whose outer parts are ableto co-act pivotally with one end of a respective brace or link whoseother ends are pivotally fastened to a respective outer unit.

One end of a respective brace or link is also pivotally fastened to themidway regions of said two arms on a respective side of a central pivotaxis and the other ends of said respective braces or links are pivotallyfastened to a respective intermediate unit.

Arrangements of this kind are well suited for inclusion as units in saidarray.

The primary characteristic features of the present invention are setforth in the characterising clause of the accompanying Claim 1, whereasthe features set forth in the characterising clause of the accompanyingClaim 15 can be considered to characterise an array of saidarrangements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Earlier known equipment for moving sleepers from a sleeper stock to arailroad bed and an exemplifying embodiment of an arrangement at presentpreferred and having characteristic features significant of the presentinvention will now be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of earlier known equipment according towhat is shown and described in the International Patent ApplicationSerial No. PCT/SE98/01992;

FIG. 2 is a first side view of an arrangement according to the presentinvention, where four sleepers are shown to be held firmly by four unitsand spaced apart for positioning over a railroad bed, where manoeuvringand adjustment of the arrangement with the sleepers held over the bed iseffected inter alia, with the aid of a person standing on the bed;

FIG. 3 is a second side view of the inventive arrangement, although inthe absence of sleeper co-action;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, wherein thearrangement includes four units, each having pairs of gripping claws andassociated beams and shown in a combined or brought-together state;

FIG. 5 illustrates in a slightly larger scale a central part of thearrangement taking the position shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a first side view of the inventive arrangement, where fourunits having pairs of gripping claws and associated beams are shown at agreater distance apart in relation to the FIG. 4 illustration;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the arrangement, in which the units, withpair-wise gripping claws and associated beams, are shown in said greaterdistance apart;

FIG. 8 shows in a slightly larger scale a central part of thearrangement in the position shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the arrangement showing the units in anintermediately-orientated greater distance apart adapted for densersleeper orientation than that shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a first side view of an array comprising two co-ordinatedarrangements positioned side-by-side in accordance with the invention,with an increased distance between the units;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the array according to FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 illustrates the array shown in FIG. 10 in a fully compactedstate.

DESCRIPTION OF KNOWN TECHNOLOGY

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of equipment illustrated and described inmore detail in the aforesaid International Patent Application No.PCT/SE98/01992, where the illustrated equipment is intended to grip orrelease a plurality of co-ordinated sleepers intended for placementalong a railroad section with the aid of pairs of gripping claws relatedto a claw-carrying beam.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a sleeper stock or stack “A” comprising a pluralityof co-ordinated and mutually parallel loose and closely adjacentsleepers of which groups “A1” can be gripped by said arrangement “B”.

In this case, the arrangement “B” is carried by a working machine “C”and the arrangement includes means “D” capable of increasing thedistance between mutually adjacent sleepers “E1; E2; E3 . . . ”.

The arrangement also includes pairs of gripping claws that are adaptedto firmly hold respective sleepers with an end-related clamping action.

The distance “a” between adjacent sleepers can be adjusted to a sleeperspacing appropriate with regard to a railroad bed “F” and the grippingclaws are opened to release the co-ordinated sleepers in this position.

More particularly, FIG. 1 shows that pair-wise gripping claws withassociated beam are adapted to grip and firmly hold a plurality ofclosely packed, group-sorted sleepers “A1”, that extend in one and thesame plane, in a first position above the sleeper stock “A”, and to liftsaid group of sleepers with the aid of the working machine “C” and movethe sleepers hanging from said claws towards and over the railroad bed“F” while increasing the spacing between the sleepers towards and up toa second position in which the distance between the gripped sleepers hasbeen “increased” with the aid of the beams carrying said claws.

When the spacing between the sleepers has been increased, the sleepersare placed to rest on the railroad bed and released.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS AT PRESENT PREFERRED

It is pointed out initially that we have chosen to use in the followingdescription of embodiments at present preferred and includingsignificant characteristic features of the invention illustrated in thefigures of the accompanying drawings special terms and terminology withthe primary intention of illustrating the inventive concept moreclearly.

However, it will be noted that the expressions and terms used shall notbe seen as being limited solely to these expressions and terms and thateach chosen expression and term shall be interpreted as also includingall technical equivalents that function in at least essentially the sameway so as to achieve the same or essentially the same intention and/ortechnical effect.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the fundamental conditions orprerequisites of the present invention, in which the significantproperties of the invention are generally concretised in the embodimentdescribed below and at present proposed.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, there is used a crane arm 1 that includes anattachment means for holding an arrangement 3 constructed in accordancewith the directives relating to the present invention.

The arrangement 3 is shown here in a first side view and is constructedto enable four sleepers to be securely held simultaneously with the aidof four units in an adapted co-ordinated or increased distancetherebetween.

In the case of the FIG. 2 illustration, the distance between thesleepers has been increased and the sleepers have been referenced S1,S2, S3 and S4 respectively and are held firmly by four units B1, B2, B3and B4 by virtue of an end-related clamping action between pairs ofgripping claws G1, G2, G3 and G4 respectively with the aid of a beam orbeam construction carrying said gripping claws.

A person “P” stands on the railroad bed “F” and the positions ofrespective sleepers S1, S2, S3 and S4 along the railroad bed iscontrolled by a crane driver, wherewith the distance of the sleeper S4from an already positioned sleeper S5 can be caused to correspond to achosen distance “b3” between sleeper S3 and the sleeper S4 with the aidof a distance measuring unit 4.

The invention is based on the concept of causing each distance “b”chosen between the sleepers S3 and S4 to be the same as the distancebetween remaining sleepers S1 and S2, S2 and S3.

The construction of the arrangement 3 will be described below in moredetail.

Thus, FIG. 3 is a side view of the arrangement 3, although only one unitB1 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 3, the unit B1 carries mutually opposing gripping clawsreferenced G1 and G1′, of which the gripping claw G1′ is shown to befixed to a beam B1′, whereas the gripping claw G1 can be rotated orpivoted from the gripping and holding position shown in FIG. 3 to arelease position not shown in said figure, with the aid of apiston-cylinder device G1″.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown means 10, which forms part of thearrangement and which is able to adjust selectively the horizontaldistance “b” between the units B1 and B2 and between remaining units B2to B3 and B3 to B4 from a first co-ordinated and fully combined orclosely juxtaposed position “B1” (FIG. 4) to a second position “B2” inwhich the distance between the units has been increased and said unitsfully moved apart (FIG. 7) and vice versa.

In conjunction with moving co-ordinated and gripped sleepers “A1”belonging to the sleeper stock or stack, the means 10 is activated toincrease the distance between adjacent units B1, B2, B3 and B4 andadjacent sleepers, wherewith unit-associated pairs of gripping claws G1,G1′ are adapted to secure a respective sleeper through the medium of anend-related clamping action until a distance corresponding to a sleeperspacing “b3” according to FIG. 2, suitable for a railroad bed “F”, isreached, wherewith the gripping claws of respective units can be openedin this position to release said plurality of sleepers.

The sleepers have been omitted in FIGS. 3 to 12, for the sake ofclarity.

The means 10 is comprised of a frame structure 11 (not described indetail) and centrally pivotal arms 40, 41 whose respective outer armportions 40 a, 40 b and 41 a, 41 b respectively co-act pivotally withone end of a respective brace or link.

Thus, one end 40 a of the arm 40 co-acts with a brace or a link 51,while the other end 40 b of said arm co-acts with a brace or a link 52.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that one end 51 a of thelink 51 co-acts pivotally with one end 40 a of the arm 40, whereas theother end 51 b of the link 51 is pivotally fastened to and co-acts withan outermost unit B1.

Similarly, the other end 40 b of the arm 40 is connected pivotally toone end 52 a of the brace or the link 52, whereas the other end 52 b ofthe link 52 is fastened pivotally to an outermost unit B4.

One end 41 a of the arm 41 co-acts pivotally with one end 61 a of thelink 61, whereas the other end 61 b of said link 61 is fastenedpivotally to the unit B1.

The other end 41 b of the arm 41 is fastened pivotally to one end 62 aof the link 62, whereas the other end 62 b of said link 61 is fastenedpivotally to the unit 64.

As will be seen, the arms 40, 41 are pivotally mounted about a commonpivot axis 12 disposed in the midway regions of respective arms.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, it will be seen that one end of saidlinks is pivotally fastened to a midway or central region 40′, (40′) and41′, (41′) of the arms 40 and 41 on a respective side of the pivot axis12, whereas the other ends of said links are fastened to intermediateunits B2 and B3 respectively.

This is shown more clearly in FIG. 8.

Thus, one end 71 a of a link 71 is pivotally fastened to one centralregion 40′ of the arm 40, and the other end 71 b of said link ispivotally fastened to the unit B2.

As will be seen, one end 72 a of a link 72 is pivotally fastened to theother central region (40′) of the arm 40, and the other end 72 b of saidlink is pivotally fastened to the unit B3.

It will also be seen that one end 81 a of a link 81 is pivotallyfastened to one central region 41′ of the arm 41, and that the other end81 b of said link is pivotally fastened to the unit B2.

It will also be seen that one end 82 a of a link 82 is pivotallyfastened to another central region 41′ of the arm 41, and that the otherend 82 b of said link is pivotally fastened to the unit B3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pivotal arms 40, 41 are two in numberwith the outer arm portions 40 a, 40 b of one arm 40 co-acting pivotallywith one end 51 a, 52 a of a respective brace of link 51, 52, wherewiththe other ends 51 b and 52 b of said brace or link are pivotallyfastened to a respective outer unit B1 and B4.

The outer arm portions 41 a, 41 b of the other arm 41 co-act pivotallywith one end 61 a, 62 a of a respective other brace or link 61, 62,wherein the other ends 61 b, 62 b of said brace or link 61, 62 arefastened to a respective outer unit B1 and B4 at a distance “c” fromsaid other ends 51 b and 52 b of the braces or links 51 and 52 relatedto said one arm 40.

The two central regions 40′, (40′) of said one arm 40 co-act pivotallywith one end of a respective brace or link 71, 72, wherewith other endsare pivotally fastened to a respective intermediate unit.

Two central regions 41′, (41′) of said other arm (41) co-act pivotallywith one end of a respective brace or link (81, 82), the other ends ofwhich are fastened pivotally to a respective intermediate unit B2 and B3at a distance from said other end of the braces or links related to saidone arm 40.

The two arms 40, 41, with associated braces or links, are spaced at thesame distance apart between chosen link pivot points, therewith enablingtwo outer units and two intermediate units to be moved towards and awayfrom each other in a parallel path.

It also lies within the scope of the invention to use two arms 40 41,with associated braces or links, that are disposed at a slightlydeviating distance between selected pivot points, therewith enablingsaid two outer units and/or said two intermediate units to be moved in aslightly converging path.

As will be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, when the units B1, B2, B3 and B4,with associated gripping claws, are in a fully combined position, thebraces or links 51, 52; 61, 62; 71, 72; 81, 82, are pivoted to aposition in which the units B1 to B4 are transversely orientated, ortransversely positioned, and angled at generally a right angle from alongitudinally extending orientation of said units and overlap eachother pair-wise, meaning that they are active in different planes.

FIG. 6 illustrates together with FIGS. 7 and 8 a position in which theunits B1 to B4, with pair-wise gripping claws and with associated beams,take a greater distance between the sleepers than that taken in the FIG.2 illustration.

It will be seen from these figures, and then particularly from FIG. 7,that the arrangement includes a hydraulic or a pneumatic piston-cylinderdevice 50 which is adapted to act between the frame structure 11 and oneof the outer units, such as the unit B1.

FIG. 7 also illustrates in particular the orientation taken by the arms40 and 41 together with allocated braces or links 51, 52; 61, 62; 71, 72and 81, 82.

The orientation of these braces and links is shown more clearly in theenlarged view of FIG. 8, where no braces or links overlap each other.

The arrangement also includes means 50 a for restricting displacement ofan outer unit B1 relative to the frame structure 11, said means 50 ahaving the form of a rod whose length can be adjusted between associatedstop elements so as to enable the units to be spaced equidistantly by achosen distance “b2”.

FIG. 9 illustrates a state of the arrangement in which the means 10 andthe units B1 and B4 are located in an “intermediate position” in whichthe distance “b” is adapted to a value of 550 mm.

It will be noted that displacement of the units B1 to B4 inclusive whileretaining one and the same increasing or decreasing distance “b” betweensaid units requires corresponding dimensioning of the means 10.

For example, with reference to FIG. 7, a first distance between thecommon pivot points 12 of the arms 40 to 41 and the pivotal fastening 71a and 72 a and 81 a and 82 a in respect of a first brace or link shallhave mutually the same value.

A second distance between the common pivot point 12 of the arms 40 and41 and respective pivotal fastening 51 a, 52 a and 61 a and 62 a inrespect of second braces or links shall also have the same value.

In respect of parallel displacement, the ratio of the first distance tothe second distance shall be 1:3.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a development of the present invention wheretwo arrangements 3A and 3B of the aforedescribed kind are coupledtogether to form an array, in which the arrangement 3A and 3B arelocated side-by-side with the number of co-ordinated units B1, B2, B3and B4 in one arrangement 3A being increased with further co-ordinatedunits B5, B6, B7 and B8 in a second arrangement 3B.

In this regard, it is particularly proposed that an outer unit B4 in afirst arrangement 3A can be placed adjacent an outer unit B5 of a secondarrangement 3B and that these units lie close together and co-act witheach other through the agency of an intermediate coupling means 13 thatincludes arms 400 and 410 that are pivotal relative to each other viafour braces or links referenced 510, 520; 610, 620.

As shown more specifically in FIG. 11, the pivotal arm 400, 410 and thelengths of the braces or links and respective pivotal attachment arechosen so that the distance between mutually adjacent outer units B4, B5of respective arrangements 3A and 3B will correspond to the distancebetween an outer unit B4 and an adjacent intermediate unit B3 in respectof one arrangement 3A or the other arrangement 3B.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the array in which spacing of the units isincreased, whereas FIG. 12 illustrate the array when the units have beenbrought together or combined.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to theaforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiment thereof and thatmodifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept andillustrated in the accompanying Claims.

It will also be understood in particular that each illustrated unit canbe combined with each other illustrated unit within the concept of theinvention in order to achieve a desired technical function.

1. An arrangement with which a plurality of sleepers intended for arailroad section can be gripped and released with the aid of a pluralityof units from gripping claws carried in pairs by a beam structure,wherein a plurality of mutually parallel and loosely stacked closelyadjacent sleepers can be gripped by an arrangement-associated unit,wherein the arrangement includes means for increasing or decreasing thedistance between adjacent units and adjacent sleepers, wherein pairs ofgripping claws in a unit are adapted to hold a respective sleeper firmlythrough the medium of an end-orientated clamping action, wherein thearrangement is adapted to move a respective sleeper through a distancecorresponding to a unit spacing or sleeper spacing suitable for arailroad bed and to open said unit-associated gripping claws in thisposition so as to release said plurality of sleepers, wherein said meanshas the form a frame structure, wherein said units are adapted to gripand firmly hold a plurality of closely adjacent sleepers extending inone and the same plane when said units are in a combined first positionand to lift said sleepers and move the same towards and over therailroad bed and distribute said units and the sleepers held thereby toa desired sleeper spacing, and wherein said arrangement also includesmeans for spacing adjacent units and sleepers equidistantly, whereinsaid means (10) includes frame-associated and centrally pivotal arms(40, 41) whose outer arm portions (40 a, 40 b; 41 a, 41 b) co-actpivotally with one end of a respective brace or link (51, 52; 61, 62)whose respective other ends are pivotally fastened to a respective outerunit (B1, B4); and in that one end of a respective brace or link (71,72; 81, 82) is pivotally fastened to central regions (40′, (40′); 41′,(41′)) of the arm, whereas the other ends of said respective brace orlink are pivotally fastened to a respective intermediate unit (B2, B3).2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said centrally pivotalarms are allocated a common vertical pivot axis (12) related to a framepart (11).
 3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arms (40,41) are two in number with the outer arm portions of one arm co-actingpivotally with one end of a respective brace or link, the other ends ofwhich are pivotally fastened to a respective outer unit.
 4. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arms are two in numberwith the outer parts of the other arm (41) pivotally co-acting with oneend of a respective other brace or link, the other ends of which arefastened to a respective outer unit at a distance from the other ends ofsaid brace or links in relation to said one arm (40).
 5. An arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the arms are two in number with thecentral regions of one arm co-acting pivotally with one end of arespective brace or link whose other ends are pivotally fastened to arespective intermediate unit.
 6. An arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the arms are two in number with the central regions of the otherarm co-acting pivotally with one end of a respective brace or link whoseother ends are pivotally fastened to a respective intermediate unit at adistance from said other ends of the braces or the links related to saidone arm (40).
 7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein two armswith associated braces or links include equidistantly spaced chosenpivot points, therewith enabling two outer units and two intermediateunits to be displaced in parallel.
 8. An arrangement according to claim1, wherein two arms, with associated braces or links, are allocatedslightly deviating distances between chosen pivot points, wherewith thetwo outer units and/or the two intermediate units are movable in aconverging path.
 9. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein whenthe units including said gripping claws are combined or located closetogether, said braces or links are rotated to a position in which theunits are transversely located and are angled essentially at rightangles from a longitudinally extending unit orientation.
 10. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement includes ahydraulic or a pneumatic piston-cylinder device (50) adapted to actbetween a frame structure and one of said outer units.
 11. Anarrangement according to claim 1, comprising means (50 a) for limitingdisplacement of an outer unit relative to a frame structure, said means(50 a) having the form of a rod whose length can be adjusted betweenrod-related stop means.
 12. An arrangement according to claim 1, whereina first distances between the common pivot point (12) of the arms andthe pivotal attachments of first braces or links are of mutually equalvalues.
 13. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a seconddistance between common pivot points of the arms and the pivotalattachments of second braces or links are mutually of the same value.14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the ratio between thefirst distance and the second distance is 1:3.
 15. An array comprisingjuxtaposed arrangements according to claim 1, wherein an outer unit of afirst arrangement can be placed adjacent an outer unit of a secondarrangement, said units being located adjacent one another and co-actingmutually through the agency of pivotal arms and via braces or links. 16.An array according to claim 15, wherein the lengths of the pivotal armsand braces or links and said pivotal attachments are chosen so that thedistance between adjacent outer units of respective arrangements willcorrespond to the distance between an outer unit and an adjacentintermediate unit of one arrangement or the other.
 17. An arrangementaccording to claim 2, wherein the arms (40, 41) are two in number withthe outer arm portions of one arm co-acting pivotally with one end of arespective brace or link, the other ends of which are pivotally fastenedto a respective outer unit.
 18. An arrangement according to claim 2,wherein the arms are two in number with the outer parts of the other arm(41) pivotally co-acting with one end of a respective other brace orlink, the other ends of which are fastened to a respective outer unit ata distance from the other ends of said brace or links in relation tosaid one arm (40).
 19. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein thearms are two in number with the outer parts of the other arm (41)pivotally co-acting with one end of a respective other brace or link,the other ends of which are fastened to a respective outer unit at adistance from the other ends of said brace or links in relation to saidone arm (40).
 20. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the armsare two in number with the outer parts of the other arm (41) pivotallyco-acting with one end of a respective other brace or link, the otherends of which are fastened to a respective outer unit at a distance fromthe other ends of said brace or links in relation to said one arm (40).